# Jussie Smollett (Empire) alleged hate crime attack. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 17, 2019, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706 "2019-02-17T04:04:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/81 "2019-02-20T21:52:37Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > No longer. As a victim, he could be a moral hero. As a hoaxer, he can be nothing more than a self-serving opportunist. Even if he wants to be a political activist and speak for causes he believes in, he can do nothing but hurt them. No other activist will want to share a stage with him. Which creates an enormous incentive to not back down one inch, so that even if most other reasonable people conclude he was party to a hoax, he may find some fringe group with whom to align, remain visible as long as they can stick together as Persecuted Ones claiming _Hoax? Oh, That’s What THEY Want You To Think_ and calling upon the sheeple to wake up. I’m not looking forward to his podcasts. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/82 "2019-02-20T21:58:01Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Which creates an enormous incentive to not back down one inch, so that even if most other reasonable people conclude he was party to a hoax, he may find some fringe group with whom to align, remain visible as long as they can stick together as Persecuted Ones claiming _Hoax? Oh, That’s What THEY Want You To Think_ and calling upon the sheeple to wake up. I’m not looking forward to his podcasts. I don’t know how fringe it has to be. In various comment sections I see a lot of “I don’t care what anyone says I believe him.” ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/83 "2019-02-20T22:03:40Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t know how fringe it has to be. In various comment sections I see a lot of “I don’t care what anyone says I believe him.” You’ll see a lot of that with [Mark “Glitter Bomb” Rober](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxhDk-hwuo) as well. There will always be someone who claims to buy the story. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/84 "2019-02-20T22:29:58Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > He already is. He’s done. Unless by some miracle he is shown to be a victim of a racist attack AND a police conspiracy, he will never get another acting job. This will follow him forever. No producer will want him associated with their project. A lot of actors playing even fairly notable characters in fairly notable TV shows basically never work again once their character leaves/dies or the show ends. In today’s culture of ‘no publicity is bad publicity’ I wonder if it’s 100% sure this will be a bad career move in the long run compared to his character just winding down (as I’ve read, never seen the show, never heard of this guy previously). Well I guess fairly close to 100% likely though. 🙂 As to whether he should confess or hold out denying (besides whatever tiny remaining chance there is it wasn’t a hoax at his behest) that all depends what the police know and moreover can prove. It’s also hard to say how enthusiastic the authorities would be prosecuting him for the most serious crimes possible, like federal mail fraud if the previous threatening letter was also a hoax he engineered. They might still be wary of a backlash if there’s any aspect sympathetic to him once all the facts come out, and/or being accused of raising the charges to placate Trump supporters etc. They might offer a pretty good deal to just make it go away. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/85 "2019-02-20T23:04:36Z")
[A tweet from Anthony Guglielmi,Chief Communications Officer Chicago Police Department:](https://twitter.com/AJGuglielmi/status/1098345941541797890) > [@](#): > > Case Update: Jussie Smollett is now officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation by #ChicagoPolice for filing a false police report (Class 4 felony). Detectives are currently presenting evidence before a Cook County Grand Jury. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/86 "2019-02-20T23:08:50Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > He hasn’t actually been charged or officially accused. These bits of info are all coming from ‘sources within the police department.’ Right now, he’s still officially a victim. > > My guess is that they have no reliable proof tying him to the hoax and are putting pressures on him, hoping that he breaks. Including leaking info to the press. > > I’m pretty sure if/when his involvement is officially announced, he’ll not only be fired but deemed professionally toxic. Well, that was short-lived. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/87 "2019-02-20T23:09:26Z")
[Really clear image of the co-conspirators buying their disguises and red cap](https://www.tmz.com/2019/02/20/jussie-smollett-attack-surveillance-video-ski-masks-osundairo-brothers/). ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/88 "2019-02-20T23:11:28Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > [Really clear image of the co-conspirators buying their disguises and red cap](https://www.tmz.com/2019/02/20/jussie-smollett-attack-surveillance-video-ski-masks-osundairo-brothers/). I know that criminals are generally dumb, but … these guys are really fucking stupid, like real next-level shit there. > [@](#): > > At one point Abel pulls his hoodie over his head, perhaps attempting to hide his face, but he’d already been seen clearly on the video. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/89 "2019-02-20T23:34:00Z")
Someone reminded me of this clip: [Is that going to be cash or credit for your rape kit?](http://www.cultjer.com/video/you-sure-you-guys-dont-wanna-grab-some-condoms-30-minutes-or-less) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/90 "2019-02-20T23:48:42Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > The only professional victim circuit I know of is Gamergate. I’ve been censured on other website for suggesting that the woman at the center of it may have been sending those abusive messages to herself. :dubious: And I thought this Smollett story was phony from the get-go. Does anyone else think this thread should be moved to the Pit? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/91 "2019-02-20T23:52:18Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Does anyone else think this thread should be moved to the Pit? No. There is already a Pit thread, no need for two: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=870927](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=870927) ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2019, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/92 "2019-02-20T23:55:33Z")
> [@nearwildheaven](#): > > Does anyone else think this thread should be moved to the Pit? Nah. I think we’re all in universal agreement that Smollett is not only guilty of fabricating this incident, but that he’s quite possibly one of the dumbest criminals in America. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/93 "2019-02-21T00:17:51Z")
> [@PunditLisa](#): > > Nah. I think we’re all in universal agreement that Smollett is not only guilty of fabricating this incident, but that he’s quite possibly one of the dumbest criminals in America. I get the feeling that you aren’t Jussie’s Gurl. ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/94 "2019-02-21T01:01:18Z")
[Jussie Smollett has now officially been charged with felony disorderly conduct.](https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2019/02/20/breaking-jussie-smollett-is-now-a-suspect-in-a-criminal-investigation-for-filing-a-false-police-report/) In Illinois, filing a false police report falls under the disorderly conduct statute. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/95 "2019-02-21T01:12:20Z")
I watched Empire for the first season and a half until I lost interest. I liked the music enough to download some of the tunes onto my iPod. I thought Jussie was quite the talented young man. What a waste. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/96 "2019-02-21T01:28:35Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > There are similarities sure. There are significant differences with regards to motivation and impact. The current story is interesting on a TMZ level. The Brawley case caused considerable harm to the city and tore apart the lives of several innocent men. And it gave us Al Sharpton is a national figure. Right, one of the worst thing about the Brawley case was that her lawyers accused a few actual people of being involved in the supposed abduction and rape. Unless this case actually named real people as the assailants (I don’t _think_ it did?), the two aren’t quite comparable. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/97 "2019-02-21T01:43:27Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I get the feeling that you aren’t Jussie’s Gurl. 😃 I’ve had that song in my head too ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/98 "2019-02-21T13:44:37Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > I thought Jussie was quite the talented young man. What a waste. Maybe a good actor, but he needs better scripts. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/99 "2019-02-21T14:15:15Z")
He was worried he’d be cut from the show. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2019, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706/100 "2019-02-21T14:49:05Z")
Most criminals are caught because they are stupid, and they think, based on fictional media portrayals, that the cops are stupid. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jussie-smollett-empire-alleged-hate-crime-attack/829706.md?page=6)